by Kent Covington Posted 10/31/18, 10:37 am

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 10 new cases of a mysterious, Polio-like illness that paralyzes children. The CDC describes Acute Flaccid Myelitis as a rare but serious condition that affects the nervous system, seizing the area of the spinal cord called gray matter and causing the muscles and reflexes in the body to weaken. The new cases of AFM bring this year’s total to 72, spread across 24 different states. Most people who contract the disease experience sudden arm or leg weakness and a loss of muscle tone and reflexes.

by Kent Covington Posted 10/26/18, 11:24 am

President Donald Trump has announced a new plan aimed at lowering prices for some prescription drugs. At the White House on Thursday, the president said current pricing practices are unfair: “We’re taking aim at the global freeloading that forces American consumers to subsidize lower prices in foreign countries through higher prices in our country.”

by Kent Covington Posted 10/25/18, 10:41 am

President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday devoting $8.5 billion to fighting the opioid crisis. The president said his administration is determined to beat the scourge of drug addiction. “We are going to end it or we are going to at least make an extremely big dent in this terrible, terrible problem,” he said. Nearly 48,000 people died last year from overdoses involving opioids. Overall, U.S.

Kent Covington | 10/24/18, 10:34 am

Hurricane Willa crashed into Mexico’s Pacific mainland Tuesday night with 120 mph winds, hitting an area of beach towns, fishing villages, and farms after roaring over an offshore penal colony. The Category 3 storm passed about 50 miles southeast of the resort city of Mazatlán, swamping streets and buildings along the coast with its storm surge. Mexican officials evacuated more than 4,000 people from coastal areas ahead of the storm. Willa also brought 6 to 18 inches of rain to several states in Mexico.

Kent Covington | 10/23/18, 10:36 am

Baseball’s World Series begins Tuesday night with the Boston Red Sox hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers at historic Fenway Park. The Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros in last year’s World Series in seven games and fought their way back to the Fall Classic this year despite posting a losing record through the first third of the season. “So proud of our guys for enduring this roller coaster of a season,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts told reporters.

Kent Covington | 10/19/18, 11:34 am

Federal prosecutors have opened a new investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania. Multiple dioceses in the state have confirmed they received subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Justice demanding secret files and testimony from high-ranking leaders in what victims’ advocates say is the first such probe ever launched at that level of government. The subpoenas, served last week, follow a scathing state grand jury report over the summer.

Kent Covington & Kiley Crossland | 10/17/18, 02:43 pm

U.S. stocks are tentatively recovering from a dip last week. The markets rocketed to their biggest gain in six months Tuesday following a six-day losing streak but seesawed throughout the day Wednesday. Good news on the U.S. economy fueled Tuesday’s rebound. The U.S. Department of Labor said employers posted the most jobs in two decades in August, while hiring continued to increase. Unemployment continued a steady drop. Strong earnings from healthcare and tech companies also helped.

Kent Covington | 10/15/18, 12:28 pm

President Donald Trump is touring storm-ravaged areas of Florida and Georgia today as both states come to grips with the devastation from Hurricane Michael. “Just arrived in Florida,” Trump tweeted midmorning. “Also thinking about our GREAT Alabama farmers and our many friends in North and South Carolina today. We are with you!”

Kent Covington | 10/12/18, 12:02 pm

World stock markets perked up a little Friday morning after heavy losses this week. Major U.S. stock indexes were up more than 1 percent but were still on track for their biggest one-week loss since late March. Fears over rising inflation and especially interest rates appeared to be the main drivers of the market plunge. Valeur Capital portfolio manager Nicola Marinelli said the heated trade war between the United States and China might also be contributing. “Some sectors are starting to suffer in their balance sheet,” Marinelli said.

Kent Covington | 10/04/18, 11:12 am

U.S. Capitol Police on Wednesday arrested a congressional intern they believe was responsible for publishing the personal information of at least one Republican senator online. Jackson Cosko, 27, has been charged with both federal and local offenses, including making public restricted information and unauthorized access of a government computer. Cosko has worked with Democratic Sens.